The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens to the continued potential for terrorist attacks, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, and possibly occurring in or emanating from the Arabian Peninsula. Current information suggests that al-Qaeda and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks both in the region and beyond, and that they may focus efforts to conduct attacks in the period between now and the end of August.

The travel alert was global, but U.S. actions in response appear focused primarily on the regions in which the embassies and consulates are set to close. The threat, according to a source who spoke with NBC, seems to be coming from Al Qaeda's affiliate in Yemen, a country that intelligence agencies have been monitoring with increasing concern.

"This is a higher-than-normal threat stream," according to a source who spoke with CNN, while another said that there has been "more than the usual chatter" regarding possible terrorist operations.